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Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Proqram n 0:\ 0: terminate Ihe project. reformulate it. and recompete against OIher proposals Ihe following year. Their projecl was found 10 be compelitlve at the reformulated cost and was allowed 10 proceed. Since [his project ran imo dlfficu]ties. none of the OIher projects have shown any protllems. In 1998. Reclamation received a record number of proposals. Many are well wilhin the compelitive range awarded in 1997. This lasl round of proposals included a proposal to improve the efficiency of Reclamation's deep well injection project (Paradox Valley Unit). an extension of a projecl awarded in ]997. one reformulated project awarded in 1997. an industrial use proposal. a cost-shared selenium comrol demonstration project. and severa] irrigation improvement projects. -j Big Sandy River Unit Reelamalion_ The Big Sandy River Unit is located near Farson and Eden in Sweetwater COUnty in southwestern Wyoming. The purpose of the Big Sandy River Unit investigation was 10 detemline the feasibililY of lowering the sail inflow to the Big Sandy River. The sludy was specifically direcled IOward reducing salt pickup from seeps and springs along a ~6-mile reach of the Big Sandy River west of Eden. Wyoming (figure 7). Feasibility planning of the unil was aUlhorized by the Sa]inil)' Control ACI (Public Law 93-320) of 1974 and the Water Resource Developments Feasibilit)' Investigalions Act (Public Law 96-375) ofOclOber 1980. Big Sandy River Unit "'-' .... So.. -- Imga_ 0'1'.1.... ~l8dl..ano:ll__ \ ~7'+-"""Uo'"' / I / 1-30ftSandLo)'9t ........--.-. T !II Gr-. R_ -F__ (....ilnej Figure 7.-Schemaflc of salt pICkup at Big Sandy RIVer Unit. Investigations indicale that seeps, which surface in the Bone Draw and Big Bend areas. produce saline Water at a rate of about n cubic feel per second (fe/s). The salinilY here varies from ].000 to 6.()(X) mg/L along: the Big Sand)' River, with a total annual comribulion of more than 164.000 tons of salt. Indications are that salt IS picked up by Waler comacling the shale of the Green RI\:er Formalion beneath the surface and eventually seepmg into the nver. Irrigalion was identified as a significam comributor 10 the Water source recharging the springs. Reclamation has studied alternatives to intercept the springs and seeps and Ihen Itanspon, Ireat and use, or dispose of the saline Water. In lhe irrigated area, off.farm solution.\ such as selective lining of canals and latera]s were sludied. Sludies conducted in cooperalion with USDA indicaled thai comrol of onfann irrigation is Ihe most cost-effeclive alternative for COntrolling salinity from the Big Sandy River Unit. Because of paSI selective lining programs. the canals and ]aterals showed relatively low seepage rales. offering little room for improvemem. 4,